California massacre: Hollywood director’s son murders 6 before killing himself

UC Santa Barbara students attend a candlelight vigil following Friday's series of drive-by shootings that left 7 people dead in the Isla Vista section of Santa Barbara May 24, 2014. (Reuters / Jonathan Alcorn) / Reuters

A 22-year-old gunman, who killed six people before taking his own life in California, was the son of a Hollywood director. Elliot Rodger stabbed three people to death and then shot another three near the campus of the University of California.

Rodger opened fire on bystanders from his car and then on foot,
which eventually ended when he killed himself after a shootout
with police. The incident happened in the town of Isla Vista,
near Santa Barbara. Aside from the six people he killed, 13
people were also injured in the attack, including eight who were
shot.

Police are now studying a YouTube video that shows a young man
identifying himself as Elliot Rodger. The video had been posted
hours before the shooting spree. During the clip, the young man
demonstrates his hatred of women and popular kids.

"You girls have never been attracted to me. I don't know why
you girls aren't attracted to me. But I will punish you all for
it. It's an injustice, a crime," he said in the video, his
speech punctuated by bursts of laughter. The clip has since been
removed from YouTube.

In addition to the video, the 22 year-old had prepared a 141-page
manifesto laying out his plan for the killings, starting with
luring potential victims to his apartment.

"It's obviously the work of a madman," Sheriff Bill
Brown told a news conference, adding the community college
student had been seen by a variety of healthcare professionals
and that it was "very, very apparent he was severely mentally
disturbed."

Rodger was the son of the assistant director Peter Rodger, who
helped make the film ‘Hunger Games’. It is understood that
members of Rodger’s family were concerned about his well being
and had asked the police to check up on him. He was interviewed
by the authorities, but they found him to be polite and not a
potential threat, so no further action was taken.

"He expressed to deputies he was having difficulties with his
social life and would probably not be returning to school within
the next year," Brown said, adding that deputies determined
he did not meet the criteria to be held involuntarily on mental
health grounds.

Rodger’s killing spree appeared to have started in his apartment,
where he stabbed three men to death. He then went to a sorority
house and knocked on the door repeatedly, but no one let him in,
Brown added. Not long afterwards, witnesses reported seeing
Rodger shoot three young women outside the house, two of whom
died.

He later drove off to a nearby delicatessen and shot a young man
before fleeing in his car and shooting at pedestrians and the
police.

Authorities found three legally-purchased semiautomatic guns, two
Sig Sauers and a Glock, and more than 400 rounds of ammunition in
his car.

Christopher Michael-Martinez was the final victim. His father
Richard Martinez was quick to blame the National Rifle
Association (NRA).

"Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven,
irresponsible politicians and the NRA," Martinez told
reporters outside the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office,
close to collapsing from emotion. "They talk about gun
rights, what about Chris' right to live? When will this insanity
stop?"